Category Archives for Airlines.
Don’t expect a return to meal (tray) service on American Airlines any time soon. And when they’re ready to offer meals again expect something ‘more modern’ which in my experience is usually code for something cheaper and less extensive,
Throughout the Covid pandemic American Airlines has focused on connecting flights through its Charlotte and Dallas hubs. It’s pulled back in other markets, like Los Angeles which will no longer be its primary transpacific gateway and New York which was hit by the virus early and now faces travel restrictions (quarantines) for people coming from much of the country.
The airline’s Miami hub, though, represents opportunity going forward because of where they see their best opportunities internationally unfolding.
Summer is traditionally peak season when airlines are the busiest. It’s heavy leisure travel season, when people fly internationally to Europe and beyond. And that season ends around Labor Day. Yet air travel this summer has plateaued around 25% of last year’s passenger volumes.
Throughout June things were improving for domestic flying, at least, but the recovery in air travel largely ended after that. Covid-19 cases grew in the United States. Cities and states imposed quarantine requirements for arriving passengers that have kept people away. And we’re approaching the end of peak leisure travel without business travel coming back in behind it to make up some of the difference.
An American Airlines flight attendant who has developed a huge social media following with feet pictures, and is now coaching others on how to make money online selling photos of their feet.
Ultimately she may make more money teaching people to make money selling feet photos than actually selling feet photos.
United was first to publicly warn that a large number of its employees would be unneeded after CARES Act funding ends, because there’s less demand for travel so they’ll be running fewer flights. They were also first out with news of legally-required WARN Act notices for about 39% of employees, preparing to be able to furlough union workers once government subsidies end.
It turns out the airline isn’t done.
Seventeen thousand Delta Air Lines employees, with an average of 25 years of service, have taken early departure packages according to a new internal memo from the carrier’s CEO Ed Bastian.
Even with this many people leaving the airline, Bastian says it helps them towards their goal of minimizing furloughs – it’s not, it seems, enough to eliminate layoffs.
The airline explains the reason for the promotion as celebrating the current good times. The global pandemic has sapped air travel demand. U.K. quarantine rules have limited travel further. So pop the bubbly by yourself in a socially-distanced way, fly to or through Heathrow if you’re able, 2020 is something to celebrate.
There aren’t that many places open in the airport anyway these days, so in many cases you aren’t missing much more than what’s on sale at Dunkin’ Donuts or Hudson News. But United wants you to know that under no circumstances will they pay for your donut while they make you wait for your next flight.
Airline miles conversion seems like at least a good start, to make it a little bit less taxing for passengers to make the right choice to cancel a trip whenever they are sick (and possibly contagious) without being penalized too harshly for doing so.
Former Spirit Airlines CEO Ban Baldanza walks through what issues are decided solely by management at an airline (in his experience) and what questions rise to the level of discussion by the Board of Directors.
There are clearly things that fall under the board’s purview – mergers, hiring and firing the CEO – and things that clearly don’t like which aircraft to schedule on a given route. But where’s the line?
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
